Warm greetings on a rainy, cold, wintry, Oregon day! Time to snuggle up and pour some tea.

The focus Scripture this coming Sunday, Feb. 17, is Luke 6:17-26. We know this passage well in the Church as the Beatitudes or the “Blesseds.” Jesus has gathered his disciples and brought them to a place accessible to most people, many people, including even Gentiles, and the crowds of people who were marginalized because of their disability. Jesus heals all of those who came, hungering in many ways, for respect and acceptance. While Matthew has Jesus preaching with his “sermon on the mount,” Luke’s Jesus is among the people, eye-level, and speaks to them, giving them hope. Jesus also uses the second person, and is direct with the people, rather than speaking in third person, “Blessed are you,” and not “those who,” because Jesus identifies with the crowd, standing with them, among them, and not above them. And Jesus’ words are powerful as he preaches to us in our modern industrial world in which we live: “Blessed are the poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled, Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.” There is an immediacy to the message, in which Jesus promises them—and us—a blessing now, in the present, not in the past or the future: now! Join us this week as we continue to explore the Beatitudes in our modern age.

* Regarding the t-shirts: Please pick up your t-shirt this Sunday, and bring cash or a check made out to Community of Pilgrims, in the amount of $8 for adult M, L, and XL, and youth; and $12 for adult 2XL. Thank you!* We also have plenty of beautiful leather bracelets for each member of the community! Pick one up this Sunday!* In the coming months, Pastor Chris and I will be quoting from and referencing sections from the book, Wisdom Distilled from the Dailyby Joan Chittister, a Benedictine monk, who, in this book, focuses on the nature of living life in an intentional Christian community, which is our aim as Community of Pilgrims. We can either order books for those interested and sending in a request for so-many copies, or feel free to order it or buy it from your favorite book distributor. Wisdom Distilled from the Daily, Joan Chittister, San Francisco: Harper One.